"School of Rock has taught me how to perform in public with self-confidence."

— Dan, 18, Downingtown

Ed Sotelo

Bass Instructor

Edward Ángel Sotelo was born and raised on the West Side of Cleveland to immigrant parents from Argentina. Somehow he escaped the orbit of the Rust Belt, went to college out East, and came back home, transformed (some say scarred) by the power of music. He joined Cleveland’s thriving underground music scene of the late 90s, and began playing bass in punk bands such as The Conservatives, Viva Caramel, Proletarian Art Threat. He humped gear from one dive to another, wrote for zines, hung out and checked out some of that era’s greatest bands at joints like Pat’s In The Flats, The Euclid Tavern, and DIY venue Speak In Tongues. Call it a long rock n’ roll internship.

In the early 2000s, Ed joined Cobra Verde, a long-lived offshoot of legendary Cleveland rockers Death of Samantha. Almost immediately he was then whisked away on a series of tours with artists like J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr), Mike Watt (Minutemen, fireHOSE), Evan Dando (Lemonheads), The Breeders, members of Detroit’s MC5, and various others. During that time, Cobra Verde released a few albums that were acclaimed enough to get them and their music on the popular TV show, “The OC”; in turn this lead to other current placements such as True Blood and Sons of Anarchy.

During this time, Ed also toured with Doug Gillard (Guided By Voices) and Cleveland blues-punk trio New Lou Reeds. Back home, he recorded, performed, and in general got mixed up in all kinds of musical shenanigans in a wide variety of genres. A chance encounter with singer-songwriter Brent Kirby led to joining roots-rock band The Jack Fords, and entry into the world of being a session guy gigging at this region’s seemingly endless watering holes. Currently, Ed’s still playing with Brent Kirby, the Jack Fords, funk band We The People, The New Lou Reeds, and a variety of talented ne’er-do-wells and miscreants. Not a bad way to live, really.